OUTWORLD

"Raise Hell" opens with an all out assault just to thin the thickness of our skins. Vocals before a minute. Love the scream 1 1/2 minutes in and a minute later. The rhythm section is ground shaking as synths wash in. A blistering guitar solo before 4 minutes followed by a synth solo. Nice bass 5 1/2 minutes in. The guitar to open "Riders" reminds me of ZERO HOUR, Jasun Tipon to be presice. It settles in with vocals and a drum stampede. Vocal melodies before 2 minutes reminding me of John Arch. The synths that follow are ablaze and the guitar follows suit. Themes are repeated. "Warcry" is a top three track for me. This one is all about the amazing vocals of Sundown Carpenter.The music is heavy and hard. Guitar solo before 3 1/2 minutes. "Outworld" has to be a top three as well. It opens with the first laid back section of the album. Reserved vocals join in. Here we go before a minute. Vocals rip it up too. Synths come to the fore but they're brief. Nice drum/bass passage 3 minutes in. Check out the guitar that follows.

"The Never" opens with synths then a guitar solo followed by a barrage of drums. A powerful rhythm section here and the vocals are outstanding. Blistering guitar before 3 1/2 minutes as a ZERO HOUR vibe follows. "City Of The Dead" opens with a dark atmosphere as reserved vocals join in. It kicks in after a minute. Killer guitar solo before 4 1/2 minutes. The final minute is lights out good. "Prelude To Madness" is a short piece where the piano plays and the guitar cries out. "The Grey Tide" opens with pounding drums, synths and the vocals are fantastic. It settles after 3 minutes.Great section. There's piano here too. It kicks back in a minute later. The guitar leads after 6 minutes. So good. Tough not to include this song in my top three. "I Thanatos" is the other top three for me. Riffs to start in a dark atmosphere. It kicks in quickly. Vocals before a minute. Check out the mind blowing guitar before 5 minutes that goes on and on. Keyboards then lead then the vocals return. The bass is killer here.

Metal fans need to check this album out. Insane, absolutely insane.

Rustey Cooley really pulled out all the creative stops on this. Every solo can captivate you and grab you by the throat saying "Listen to this! It'll rock your socks!" For example, take the magnificent "Riders", a truly classic heavy metal song, with a huge solo frenzy and heavy metal pomp surrounding the air. They took all their influences and multipied them by 9001, so it seems.

People will continue their daily lives not knowing about this band, and that is sad. However, I'll go on knowing that I've listened to a truly amazing progressive metal album. Gargantuan.